Summary

The website content discusses how a writer's passion can lead to prioritizing writing over household chores and other responsibilities, while still managing to balance personal and family life.

Abstract

The author of the content reflects on the impact of writing on personal priorities, acknowledging that while some household tasks may be deferred, writing has become a central focus that reshapes daily routines. The writer shares personal experiences of integrating writing into life with family responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of setting a domestic plan, embracing solitude for productivity, and managing time effectively. The essay also touches on the writer's philosophy of prioritizing writing as a more fulfilling endeavor compared to past professional experiences, and the healthiness of maintaining social connections despite a deep commitment to writing.

Opinions

Writing can take precedence over certain chores, altering one's priorities significantly.
The author views writing as a passion that justifies postponing some domestic tasks.
A structured plan for domestic chores allows for a balance between writing and household management.
Solitude is seen as beneficial for writing, enhancing focus and productivity without distractions.
The author does not believe in writing just for the sake of it, preferring meaningful and thoughtful content.
Time management is crucial, with the author setting self-imposed writing deadlines to stay focused.
The author emphasizes the importance of not completely shutting out the world, as life experiences contribute to writing.
While writing is a priority, the author still values family time, social events, and personal health.
The writer is a proponent of flexibility and adaptability, adjusting writing schedules according to seasons and life events.
The author encourages other writers to continue writing and not to be overly concerned with household chores, as they can wait.

How Does Your Writing Distract You From Your Other Priorities?

When you gladly blame writing on being an influencer of procrastination

Of course, being a parent and juggling the accompanying responsibilities will always be a priority you can’t ignore or be distracted from — if you’re a writer, you might write when the children go to bed or early in the morning before they get up.

I’m purposefully distracted from, and procrastinate on, some household chores. My priorities have changed. Drastically.

When you’re involved with a goal based on a passion, your priorities are affected.

Somebody has to do the laundry

Should it be you? Heck, no, because you’re working on that project you’ve been writing and researching for the past 10 years — like me.

Put a domestic plan in place

Choose a day when you’ll do your laundry. Choose a time frame of the day when the dishes get done. If you have a spouse, work out a compromise for help since part of a relationship should include supporting each other.

Dusting? Well, if nobody is coming over, is that really a priority?

I usually do some power cleaning and laundry on Fridays. I help my daughter and her husband with their three children. I can usually spend a lot of daytime hours during the workweek writing, and barring no family event, I can write pretty much all weekend.

Writing in solitude is like having a party with words

I don’t waste time. It’s not my nature to procrastinate either. I’ve made an exception in order to achieve my writing goals. When you’re a driven writer, things wait because they can. Maybe, too, I’m afraid I’m going to miss a thought if I leave my keyboard — or maybe the thought will still be there when I get back.

In hindsight when I think back to having a 9 to 5 and was working remotely in 2020, there were days when I worked in sweats and a tee because I could. Nobody was going to see me. I was more productive without distractions.

When you write in solitude most of the day, nobody sees you unless family walks in. You can dress down every day. You’re on your schedule.

I have a table next to my desk with puzzle projects. When I take mini-breaks from writing, I go there and listen to the news. I zone out for a few minutes while matching pieces to spaces on a puzzle. My next puzzle project was given to me by my 12-year-old granddaughter; it’s called “The Writer.”

I do not clean on my mini-breaks. I actually think half my mind zones out and the other half is digesting what I just wrote.

I’m not trying to air my laundry that I’m not doing my laundry; I just don’t do it twice a week — it falls on Fridays now. Throw a load in and get back to the laptop until it’s dryer time. Repeat. Throw it in the dryer and race to the laptop.

I can’t write enough, too much to say, share and ponder. I never have writer’s block. I think too much. That said, however, I also can’t write just to write — like some people talk just to talk and talk.

Writing is an opportunity to seize

Hold tight to the fragrant and succulent language that goes into each paragraph, but have a strategy for the stuff you have to do that you don’t want to touch because you think it has thorns or is completely tasteless.

The sucky stuff you have to do is also a priority. Accordingly, have a plan in place.

Writing is my new 9 to 5, including flexibility. I look at all the necessary chores I have to do and say “buh,” a sound I adopted from my son when he sees things he doesn’t like.

Time is more precious as you get older

Boy oh boy, isn’t that the truth. I spent 30 years working in law firms and after a while, it reminded me of people who go to mass and say all these words out of routine and you wonder if the words have become empty. I can say this because I’m now a non-practicing Catholic, however, my belief system is unbroken.

Those 30 years were scaling up a mountain and once I reached the top, coming down was faster than going up. So, I have this next mountain to climb now but I don’t know if I have 30 years, so I’m very focused on meeting self-imposed writing deadlines. You get that, right? Every experience to some extent is a stepping stone between the mountains you cross.

Kat Morris wrote an interesting fun read with Stop Cleaning and Start Writing. Because you see all the cleaning that wants attention doesn’t mean that by not doing it that you’re procrastinating. And even if you are, so what? You want to get that book done, right? I will be a cheerleader to say keep writing, the cleaning can wait for a bit.

Stop Cleaning And Start Writing

How do you switch off from housework and everything else when it’s time to write?

writingcooperative.com

What happens when you write to the exclusion of everything else?

If you’re social, keep in touch with friends and family. Maybe you slow down doing some of the things you used to do, but don’t give up on some of your social opportunities like meeting friends for dinner.

I don’t binge on series like I used to because my time is devoted to writing. I participate in family events like birthdays. I would say winter is my strongest writing period since going outside is limited. Summer will present itself with a new plan because I like to get outside with walking exercise and flower gardening.

It wouldn’t be healthy to completely shut the world out because, after all, some of your memorable writing pieces come from living experiences.

As far as that knob on your washing machine, you can probably get away from touching it for four or five days and then get reacquainted with its role in your life. I will say clean your kitchen every day which usually doesn’t take long if you have a dishwasher.

I’m a perfectionist that makes allowances for what I can procrastinate on.

Thank you for reading, and have kind thoughts and prayers for Ukraine.

About the Author

Earning a B.A. in English Journalism & Creative Writing in my 40s affirmed my love for literature, language, and writing. I retired early to write full-time. I published two eBooks in 2022 and am currently finalizing a true-crime book that was researched for the past decade.

Connect via Twitter or LinkedIn. Website: https://writerallday.com/